Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his support for the use of overseas captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes that franchises should focus on leadership skills rather than nationality when choosing their captains.
Manjrekar noted that many Indian captains have struggled in recent IPL seasons, demonstrating that being an Indian player does not guarantee successful leadership.
“I think we’ve also seen a lot of Indian captains struggle. Players like Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant haven’t quite delivered,” Manjrekar said in a conversation with Sportstar.
The former batter stressed that franchises should prioritize finding the best leader, especially in the fast-paced T20 format. He argued that a captain’s ability to guide the team is more important than their nationality.
“My philosophy is simple: in T20 Cricket, you need the best captain available. If that happens to be a foreign player, then so be it. David Warner and Pat Cummins have both been successful captains,” he explained.
While advocating for merit-based selections, Manjrekar acknowledged that IPL teams often consider other factors. He mentioned that having an Indian captain can boost a franchise’s marketability and strengthen fan connections.
“There is a non-cricketing reason why franchises often prefer Indian captains. An Indian captain becomes the face of the franchise and strengthens the brand,” he said.
He added that franchises need to balance brand recognition with on-field success.
“Ultimately, franchises have to decide what is better for the brand and what is better for winning titles. Ideally, the captain should be a good leader, regardless of nationality,” he said.
The 59-year-old also emphasized how a captain can influence a franchise’s identity and popularity among fans.
“The IPL is also about brand value. An Indian captain attracts more attention. Having someone like Rishabh Pant or Virat Kohli leading the team creates a different dynamic,” he concluded.
In IPL history, only three foreign captains have led their teams to victory: Shane Warne with Rajasthan Royals in 2008, Adam Gilchrist with Deccan Chargers in 2009, and David Warner with SRH in 2016.